"Wear" means to have something on your body; "use" means to employ anything for a purpose.
To have something on your body: clothes, accessories, perfume, makeup, glasses. Implies contact with the body.
She always wears red on Fridays. It is her thing.
Ella siempre lleva rojo los viernes. Es su cosa.
Do you wear glasses? I did not know you needed them.
¿Usas lentes? No sabia que los necesitabas.
He wears the same cologne every day. You always know when he has been in a room.
El usa la misma colonia todos los dias. Siempre sabes cuando ha estado en un cuarto.
To employ something for a purpose. Does not imply it is on your body. Very general.
She uses a laptop for work and a tablet for drawing.
Ella usa una laptop para trabajar y una tableta para dibujar.
Can I use your phone? My battery is dead.
¿Puedo usar tu telefono? Mi bateria murio.
They use solar panels to power the entire house.
Ellos usan paneles solares para alimentar toda la casa.
Common mistake
The most common Spanish-speaker error: "I use glasses" (instead of "I wear glasses") because "usar lentes" is perfectly correct in Spanish. In English, glasses, sunglasses, earphones, a watch, jewelry, perfume, makeup, gloves, a hat — all go with "wear", never with "use". The only accepted exception: "use glasses" exists in English but is noticeably less natural than "wear glasses".
Trick to remember it
Body rule: if it is in contact with your body (or hanging from it), "wear". Clothes, glasses, jewelry, perfume, makeup, belt, watch, earphones, bandage — all: "wear". If it is a tool or device you handle with your hands or use mentally, "use". Question: are you wearing it? "Wear". Are you handling it? "Use".
Quick rule
Wear = have on your body. Use = employ for a purpose (not on the body).
Did you know?
"Wear and tear" (deterioration from use) is a very common idiom in English, especially in rental contracts. It means the normal deterioration something suffers over time and use. "Normal wear and tear is expected." This expression combines "wear" in the sense of deterioration and "tear" (ripping/damage) — nothing to do with crying (which is also spelled "tear" but pronounced differently).
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
He has been _____ the same watch for thirty years. It was his father's.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
She _____ a special app to track her sleep patterns every night.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Wear = have on your body. Use = employ for a purpose (not on the body).
The most common Spanish-speaker error: "I use glasses" (instead of "I wear glasses") because "usar lentes" is perfectly correct in Spanish. In English, glasses, sunglasses, earphones, a watch, jewelry, perfume, makeup, gloves, a hat — all go with "wear", never with "use". The only accepted exception: "use glasses" exists in English but is noticeably less natural than "wear glasses".
Body rule: if it is in contact with your body (or hanging from it), "wear". Clothes, glasses, jewelry, perfume, makeup, belt, watch, earphones, bandage — all: "wear". If it is a tool or device you handle with your hands or use mentally, "use". Question: are you wearing it? "Wear". Are you handling it? "Use".
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy